Genshin Impact Luna IV Update: Banners, New Characters, and Key Leaks
The Luna IV (Version 6.3) update marks the next big chapter for Genshin Impact’s Nod‑Krai storyline. It brings new characters, banners, artifact sets, and a fresh Lunar reaction system that reshapes Hydro and Geo team building. Players who plan wishes ahead will want to understand how Columbina, Zibai, and Illuga fit into the upcoming meta.

Luna IV Release Window and Main Features
Luna IV is expected to launch in mid‑January 2026, following the usual six‑week patch cycle after Version 6.2. The update focuses on closing out the main Nod‑Krai arc and introducing a more advanced version of the Lunar system first teased earlier in Luna.
The key highlights include:
- A new segment of the Nod‑Krai map, with frozen coasts, ruined settlements, and lunar‑themed landmarks.
- The formal rollout of Lunar‑Crystallize and related reactions, centered on Geo and Hydro synergy.
- Three new playable units that are all tuned around these reactions.
These changes make Luna IV comparable in importance to the original Dendro release for long‑term meta shifts.
Also Read: Genshin Impact Columbina Build Guide 2026
New Characters in Luna IV
Luna IV introduces three headline characters: Columbina, Zibai, and Illuga. Each fills a distinct role in the new team ecosystem.
Columbina – Hydro Catalyst Harbinger
Columbina is a 5‑star Hydro catalyst unit long anticipated as a playable Fatui Harbinger. Early information positions her as an off‑field Hydro sub‑DPS and a universal Lunar reaction enabler.
Key points:
- Creates a persistent Hydro field that builds “points” when Lunar reactions occur, then spends them in powerful follow‑up attacks.
- Her Burst further increases all Lunar reaction damage for the party, making her a core piece for Luna‑focused teams.
Because of this design, she fits into Hydro teams, Luna reaction squads, and even traditional reaction comps that appreciate steady Hydro application.
Zibai – Geo Sword Main DPS
Zibai is a 5‑star Geo sword user and a new face for reaction‑based Geo play. She is built to stay on-field and drive Lunar‑Crystallize.
Important traits:
- Her skill state lets her infuse attacks and trigger Lunar‑Crystallize rapidly, gaining a special resource as she fights.
- One of her normal attack hits also counts as a Lunar‑Crystallize strike, speeding up her resource gain and overall reaction rate.
This kit aims to push Geo teams away from pure mono‑Geo and into more dynamic reaction gameplay.
Illuga – Geo Polearm Support
Illuga is a 4‑star Geo polearm user from Nod‑Krai’s Lightkeepers, designed as a supportive partner for Geo carries.
His playstyle centers on:
- Summoning a mechanical bird to provide off‑field Geo damage and reaction triggers.
- Spending “Nightingale’s Song” stacks during his Burst to add extra damage whenever allies land Geo hits, with scaling tied to his Elemental Mastery and partly Defence.
Illuga’s ability to buff Geo damage and Lunar‑Crystallize makes him a natural pair for Zibai, Navia, and other Geo units.
Luna IV Banners: Phase 1 and Phase 2
Leaks consistently describe a two‑phase banner structure for Luna IV, with new characters spread across both halves.
Phase 1 Banners
Phase 1 focuses on Columbina and early Lunar reaction setups.
Expected features:
- Columbina as the new 5‑star Hydro catalyst headliner.
- Illuga likely included as one of the featured 4‑stars to start filling out Geo support rosters.
- A Hydro or Luna‑synergistic rerun, with some sources suggesting Neuvillette or a similar Hydro carry.
This phase gives players access to the main Hydro support for Lunar‑Crystallize teams as well as an early shot at Illuga.
Phase 2 Banners
Phase 2 shifts emphasis to Geo teams built around Zibai.
Expected structure:
- Zibai as the featured 5‑star Geo sword DPS.
- Illuga may return as a rate‑up 4‑star if not fully covered in Phase 1, ensuring access for players who skipped earlier pulls.
- A rerun with strong Hydro or Geo synergy, again with Neuvillette and Ineffa frequently mentioned as possible candidates.
Together, these banners encourage a Columbina + Zibai + Illuga core as the flagship Luna IV team concept.
New Lunar Reactions and Artifact Sets
The Lunar system introduced in earlier patches becomes more central in Luna IV.
Lunar‑Crystallize
Lunar‑Crystallize is a Geo–Hydro reaction variant intended to replace traditional shield‑Heavy Crystallize in certain teams.
Reported behavior:
- Creates “Lunar Wards” around enemies instead of classic shields.
- After several triggers, these wards can resonate, dealing AoE Geo damage that scales with CRIT stats of the triggering units.
- Characters like Columbina, Zibai, and Illuga have passives and multipliers tuned to exploit this pattern.
New Artifact Sets
Two new artifact sets are associated with Luna IV and Lunar reactions.
Highlights:
- One set emphasizes ATK and CRIT for main on‑field damage dealers such as Zibai.
- The other, sometimes translated as Dawn Song of the Morning Star and Moon, offers flat Elemental Mastery at 2‑piece and a stacking off‑field Lunar reaction damage bonus at 4‑piece when Moonsign level reaches a threshold such as Ascendant Gleam.
The second set is clearly intended for reaction supports like Columbina and other Luna‑focused off‑field units.
Map Expansion, Bosses, and Events
Luna IV also extends Nod‑Krai with new locations, bosses, and seasonal content.
Key features include:
- A significant northern expansion of the Nod‑Krai map, with icy coastlines, deep caverns, and lunar shrines tied into the main Archon quest.
- At least one new world boss aligned with Lunar mechanics, dropping materials required to ascend Columbina, Zibai, and Illuga.
- A Domain boss for the two new artifact sets.
- A festival‑scale Nod‑Krai event, similar in scope to Lantern Rite but themed around long winter nights and lighthouse traditions.
These additions aim to keep exploration, combat, and story progression closely linked.
Should You Pull on Luna IV Banners?
Whether Luna IV is worth heavy investment depends on your roster and preferred teams.
You may want to save wishes for Luna IV if:
- You enjoy Hydro and Geo characters and want to explore a reaction‑based Geo meta.
- You lack a strong Hydro enabler and see Columbina as a long‑term support pick.
- You plan to build a Zibai‑centered Geo carry team and want Illuga as a budget support with strong scaling.
On the other hand, you might wait if:
- Your account already has multiple endgame Hydro and Geo carries and you prefer to bank Primogems for later regions such as Snezhnaya.
- You are still happy with existing reaction archetypes like Hyperbloom and do not feel an urgent need to re‑center teams around Lunar‑Crystallize.
Overall, Luna IV looks like a high‑impact update that introduces a new reaction layer, three synergistic characters, and several strong reruns, making it a compelling point in the roadmap for both gameplay and story‑focused players.
